XiuDaoZiLiang 修道資糧
The Prerequisites for Daoist Cultivation
In my previous article on the WeiJi hexagram, I mentioned that from the Daoist perspective, we must have the Four Factors present in our lives in order to find our way to enlightenment. These factors are: Fa 法 — method, Cai 財 — finance, Lu 侶 — companions, and Di 地 — environment. I always discuss these four factors with those dedicated students who participate in my long term training opportunities (JingDao Traditional Daoist Arts and GanZhi Advanced Daoist Arts programs).
The definition of the Dao is the union of Yin and Yang. In traditional Daoist spiritual cultivation practices, this means that one must know how to prepare ourselves in the material world in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
In modern days, I see that many students often misinterpret the idea of material detachment in their spiritual practice. Students somehow believe that spiritual practices should not involve any material support. For example, a few years ago, one of my closest brothers in the Dao moved to a remote area in China to start renovating an old temple. In order to raise money for the project, which is located in poor rural area, he has had to follow the old Daoist ways of making money as opposed to waiting for donations to roll in from nowhere. He mindfully sells teas, medicinal herbs, and Daoist talismans online. People often question him about his business practice, as they somehow believe a Daoist priest should not involved in doing any kind of business! In fact, the old Daoist ways of spiritual practice has always emphasized that proper finances are a vital part of spiritual independence.
The Four Factors (prerequisites for enlightenment) are called XiuDaoZiLiang, which literally means the funds and foods of Daoist cultivation. As with our day to day life, in which we need funds and food to support our physical survival, we also need funds and food to support our spiritual growth. I would like to provide you with some details about the four prerequisites to reaching enlightenment from a Daoist point of view.
A) Fa 法 — Methods
Carefully choosing the right method is the pathway to success when it comes to healing and spiritual transformation. Improper cultivation practices could not only waste your time but may also lead some unwanted side effects.
In general, when seeking your cultivation method, we always say that it is easy to find a famous teacher to follow and it is difficult to find a truely illuminated teacher to study under. For example, Zhang SanFeng ZuShi 張三丰祖 師, one of the ancestral Taiji masters, prayed intensely for a teacher for over 30 years. It was not until he was 67 years old that his master, HuoLong ZhenRen 火龍真人, finally passed his cultivation secrets along to him.
Another example is HaiChanZi 海蟾子, who founded the Southern Complete Reality School. He taught Zhang BoDuan 張伯端, who was already 83 years old on their first meeting. Zhang BoDuan spent many years seeking a teacher and he finally received a great blessing to study internal alchemy. Zhang BoDuan’s Daoist name is ZiYang ZhenRen 紫陽真人. He wrote the famous internal alchemy book, Wu Zhen Pian 悟真篇 (Understanding Reality) after he reached enlightenment.
In our tradition, the deepest and most transformative methods must be passed along in person. As ZiYang ZhenRen states in WuZhenPian, please don’t make a guess about the method if you have not yet found an illuminated teacher.
B) Cai 財 — Funds
Cai involves being diligent about how to earn and spend your money. In old times, a Daoist practitioner emphasized that it was important to create a sustaining method of living, meaning it is not sustainable to rely solely on donations from others for their own survival, rather they must find reliable ways to earn their own keep. It is difficult to have the energy for spiritual cultivation when you do not have enough resources to keep your self properly housed, clothed, and fed. There is a saying, JunZiAiCai QuZhiYouDao 君子愛財 取之有道, which means that an enlightened person loves money but only obtains it through the principles of the Dao. Loving money doesn’t mean that an enlightened person is obsessed with money, rather, it recognizes that securing financial stability for yourself is an important factor of fulfilling your spiritual potential.
C) Lu 侶— Spiritual Companions
Identifying your cultivation companions and spending time with those you can share your experiences with is another vital factor in supporting each other on your spiritual journey. Likewise, we are advised to stay away from those who like to waste our time on gossip and who otherwise are a perpetual drain our energy. Your companions matter.
This is especially important in the early stages of your cultivation process, as it is difficult to go through the complex processes of inner transformation all by yourself. As I mention many times in my teachings, each one of us will have to go through difficult challenges on our way to true healing and internal alchemy. A fellow spiritual companion will be able to help support you through your challenges.
D) Di 地 — Environment
Selecting a harmonious environment for our healing and inner cultivation can actually speed up the process. Over the past two decades, many Qi-friends share with me that they experience more obvious and immediate results through their practices when we are practicing together, all day long and for several days in a row, in a retreat setting.
It is hard to be a hermit living long term in a nice environment in our modern days. However, if you can take time away from your daily life once or twice a year and join a short term cultivation retreat which offers the opportunity to practice authentic methods together with a small group of like-minded Qi-companions, in a good FengShui environment, all under the guidance of an experienced teacher, it can help you deeply experience the powerful influence these four prerequisites have on your healing and/or spiritual journey.
I hope you can find a way to bring the four factors into your life!